E70 X5, probably 4.8i, reviews/experiences

[The Stiglet]

Always liked the look of the E70 and I've noticed that the prices are coming down. I think they are still a little high for me to justify the 35d especially as I only do around 6,000 per annum.

What are people's experiences of the 4.8i? I saw one semi-recent post about a guy struggling to sell his for a decent price as there is a lack of demand for the big petrol engine. That interested me as petrol costs don't bother me (too) much although it would be nice if it might achieve 27 mpg at around 75mph on a long cruise?

What are the 'must have' options on these? Dynamic drive? etc.

Areas of concern, things to be aware of would be useful too.

Cheers

[Cheib]

Unless you can afford one with an 8 speed box I very much doubt you will get 27mpg at 75mph. I have the 35d which I have owned from new in 2007 it gets a bit more than that but not huge amounts more.

They're great cars....I normally change cars every year or two maximum but it just does the job as a family car superbly especially for longer trips. Just brilliant for shifting a family long distances in comfort...especially with the Comfort Seats which are just superb but rarely seen on second hand cars.

Mine has (touch wood) been very reliable.

In terms of options

Comfort Seats
Panoramic Roof
Third Row Seats
Comfort Access
Electric Boot Lid
Ipod interface
Folding mirrors

All things I use a lot and would miss.

Heated Seats and Steering Wheel, Rear Blinds etc are all great but nice to have rather than necessities!

You'll see a lot of debate about ride, RFT's and wheel sizes. 20" wheels on RFT's will give a bumpy ride....normal tyres help but the ride still isn't great. I live in London so encounter a lot of speed bumps....the way the suspension is set up means the car jarrs a bit over speed bumps or pot holes and that's not just the tyres. I have 20" wheels with normal tyres and also have a set of 18" wheels with winter tyres...even on the latter my wife's Golf Gti on 18" wheels deals with speed bumps better. At the end of the day it's a big heavy car. The flip side is is much nicer to drive on the open road than a RR Sport for example which has a softer ride.

[ArmaghMan]

According to my mechanic ( who is usually well informed on all things BMW), the gearbox on the v8s is a major weakness.

[farbbm]

Cheib said:

Unless you can afford one with an 8 speed box I very much doubt you will get 27mpg at 75mph. I have the 35d which I have owned from new in 2007 it gets a bit more than that but not huge amounts more.

They're great cars....I normally change cars every year or two maximum but it just does the job as a family car superbly especially for longer trips. Just brilliant for shifting a family long distances in comfort...especially with the Comfort Seats which are just superb but rarely seen on second hand cars.

Mine has (touch wood) been very reliable.

In terms of options

Comfort Seats
Panoramic Roof
Third Row Seats
Comfort Access
Electric Boot Lid
Ipod interface
Folding mirrors

All things I use a lot and would miss.

Heated Seats and Steering Wheel, Rear Blinds etc are all great but nice to have rather than necessities!

You'll see a lot of debate about ride, RFT's and wheel sizes. 20" wheels on RFT's will give a bumpy ride....normal tyres help but the ride still isn't great. I live in London so encounter a lot of speed bumps....the way the suspension is set up means the car jarrs a bit over speed bumps or pot holes and that's not just the tyres. I have 20" wheels with normal tyres and also have a set of 18" wheels with winter tyres...even on the latter my wife's Golf Gti on 18" wheels deals with speed bumps better. At the end of the day it's a big heavy car. The flip side is is much nicer to drive on the open road than a RR Sport for example which has a softer ride.

I'd have to Xenons are also worth having after spending a week up in the lakes.

[The Stiglet]

ArmaghMan said:

According to my mechanic ( who is usually well informed on all things BMW), the gearbox on the v8s is a major weakness.

What gearbox is used? I thought it was a standard ZF 6 speed box. Is it the same as the 4.8is from the previous model or an updated version?

Can't see why it would be a problem given that there's not huge amounts of power going through there.

[The Stiglet]

farbbm said:

I'd have to Xenons are also worth having after spending a week up in the lakes.

surely standard on the 4.8i? A crime if not at the list price.

[The Stiglet]

Cheib said:

In terms of options

Comfort Seats
Panoramic Roof
Third Row Seats
Comfort Access
Electric Boot Lid
Ipod interface
Folding mirrors

Thanks for the feedback. What about dynamic drive though? Did you test that?

I didn't think it was asking too much for 27mpg but I guess it's a big heavy brut of a thing with a toque converter and four wheel drive to soak up even more juice. Given the nature of the beast, I suspect it's actually quite efficient if you can get close to that figure.

Storage is important for ski trips and bike races but I also like space inside the cabin.

So far my potential hit list of cars based on the above criteria (I also fancy a higher driving position as a change, don't judge me!)

Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Gen 1
Porsche Cayenne 4.8 V8S, Gen 2
VW Touareg V10, post 2007
Audi C6 S6 Avant

Based on a budget of around £18,000-£20,000 max.

I did think of an E61 550i but they are exceptionally hard to find and I'm not as fond of the E61 although appreciate the powertrain, hence the E70.

[Cheib]

The Stiglet said:

Thanks for the feedback. What about dynamic drive though? Did you test that?

No. When I ordered mine there were very few in the country and it was a £2.5k option from memory so I declined without the chance to trial it. Looking back I should have ordered it as I've run the car for so long and I was very liberal in the ticking of options boxes as it was!

From what I've read dynamic drive is worth having if you can find it.

[Zod]

Cheib said:

The Stiglet said:

Thanks for the feedback. What about dynamic drive though? Did you test that?

No. When I ordered mine there were very few in the country and it was a £2.5k option from memory so I declined without the chance to trial it. Looking back I should have ordered it as I've run the car for so long and I was very liberal in the ticking of options boxes as it was!

From what I've read dynamic drive is worth having if you can find it.

It's very good. We had it on the 50i. It's not available on the 40d and I miss it.

[jboy72]

At the last time of looking, there was a particularly nice looking e61 550i for sale in the classifieds section. I have no connection with Texasjohn the seller, but the car really did catch my eye and I already own an e61 550i! It is within your budget - I guess you have already spotted it though, and discounted it?

[thegreatdogwood]

The Stiglet said:

farbbm said:

I'd have to Xenons are also worth having after spending a week up in the lakes.

surely standard on the 4.8i? A crime if not at the list price.

You get every eejit in the world flashing you because they think you have full beam on - I get it ALL the time

Add DAB to list of essentials and Logic speaker upgrade - both transform listening to the radio

If you don't need 3rd row seats don't get one as the space under the boot is invaluable for storing things other than seats you wont use

[Technomad]

thegreatdogwood said:

You get every eejit in the world flashing you because they think you have full beam on - I get it ALL the time

Add DAB to list of essentials and Logic speaker upgrade - both transform listening to the radio

If you don't need 3rd row seats don't get one as the space under the boot is invaluable for storing things other than seats you wont use

Yep. AFAIK, all LCI cars have xenons as standard and I think '11 cars onwards have DAB. I'm on my second E70 (40d m sport vs pre-LCI 30D SE) and the newer one is noticeably quieter, more refined and rides better on the RFTs. I'm still going to ditch them at first opportunity though. The only thing I don't like about the newer one is the standard Servotronic steering - I really can't get on with that.

I also think they must have changed the 4WD bias - the new one feels much more like a RWD car when exiting bends under power. This is a Good Thing.

[The Stiglet]

jboy72 said:

At the last time of looking, there was a particularly nice looking e61 550i for sale in the classifieds section. I have no connection with Texasjohn the seller, but the car really did catch my eye and I already own an e61 550i! It is within your budget - I guess you have already spotted it though, and discounted it?

I hadn't seen it until you pointed it out, very nice indeed. The only drawback (apart from the fact that I don't think they look special enough) is the colour of the seats - I really want black.

[Cheib]

thegreatdogwood said:

The Stiglet said:

farbbm said:

I'd have to Xenons are also worth having after spending a week up in the lakes.

surely standard on the 4.8i? A crime if not at the list price.

You get every eejit in the world flashing you because they think you have full beam on - I get it ALL the time

Add DAB to list of essentials and Logic speaker upgrade - both transform listening to the radio

If you don't need 3rd row seats don't get one as the space under the boot is invaluable for storing things other than seats you wont use

I never get flashed....and I have Xenon's.

7 seats are really personal preference....I have two young kids and they come in useful when transporting other little people and indeed Grandparents etc.

[TNJ]

I thought I would add my thoughts as I was the one that posted about selling my 4.8 a couple of months ago. I still have it - mainly because I have spent ages trying to decide on what I want to replace it with and I did not see the point in spending a few thousand pounds to change just for the sake of it. I have now decided on an M135i so it will be up for sale in the next few weeks.

The car itself is fantastic for what it is - comfy, plenty of power, can shift when you want it to but also very practical for a family loadlugger.

Mine is pretty well specced - but then the standard spec on the 4.8 is good anyway. I have got a number of the "must have" options such as panoramic roof (which I have probably used twice in nearly 3 years of ownership!), 20" wheels, folding mirrors (essential), heated seats front and rear, Head Up Display (every car should have this!) etc etc.

Only aftermarket addition is DVD players in the headrests for the kids.

Fuel consumption according to the trip computer is 18mpg, but a lot of my driving is around London. On a run to the south of France, mid 20s were achieved but this drops back down very quickly as soon as you start to creep above 80mph.

In terms of things to watch out for - nothing so far. Servicing at main dealers is not cheap but, for what was a £65k plus car new, it is reasonable. Biggest service bill was £1000 for an Inspection II service including an MOT. Other bills have been £100-£200 for oil changes and brake fluid. Tyres all round were £1200 for run flats (I can't say I have had a major problem with the ride - certainly not enough to make me ditch the run flats). I have not had any problems with the car at all.

Overall, the car has worked well for me. I do about 5,000 miles a year in it so the extra fuel cost over a diesel was far less than paying the extra £5k premium for a diesel when I bought it. That premium would have been even higher for a like for like spec.

If the fuel consumption figures work out, then I would have no hesitation in recommending one - even if just for the sound of the V8 which is highly addictive!

[thegreatdogwood]

TNJ said:

I have got a number of the "must have" options such as panoramic roof (which I have probably used twice in nearly 3 years of ownership

The panny roof is a must have though as it transforms the interior into a light airy space. I have the louver open all year, except for when there is bright sun directly overhead

[Zod]

thegreatdogwood said:

TNJ said:

I have got a number of the "must have" options such as panoramic roof (which I have probably used twice in nearly 3 years of ownership

The panny roof is a must have though as it transforms the interior into a light airy space. I have the louver open all year, except for when there is bright sun directly overhead

Completely agree. It makes the car a much nicer place to be. I only close it to park.

[jboy72]

Zod said:

Completely agree. It makes the car a much nicer place to be. I only close it to park.

This may be a stupid question, but why do you close it to park? Is it because bright sunlight may fade the leather?

[Zod]

jboy72 said:

Zod said:

Completely agree. It makes the car a much nicer place to be. I only close it to park.

This may be a stupid question, but why do you close it to park? Is it because bright sunlight may fade the leather?

Yes, or it might heat up the car, although it's climate control glass, so neither ought to matter.

[HoHoHo]

We had a few issues with our Pano roof on our '12 30D M Sport.

It didn't help the dealer dropped one of them when they were taking it out and smashed it!

If I were to spec the car again I don't think I'd bother to be honest - I can count on the fingers of one had how many times we had it open over the last 18 months.

Cameras, 7 seats and other bits sure, but not the roof.